China continues development in Subi Reef, says tech firm

China has reportedly continued to develop structures in Subi Reef, part of the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS), satellite imaging firm Simularity said.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras", the technology firm claimed the Chinese government has established seven new construction sites in the area including the so-called Reef Site A where it had dumped materials and equipment on May 5.

Simularity likewise said it had monitored the establishment of buildings and facilities in other parts of the island.

The development comes amid the Philippines’ construction of its facilities in Pag-asa Island which includes the nearly-completed airport runway of the Department of Transportation, a pitching ramp, a boat shelter for fisherfolks, and a lighthouse.

Also established are the offices of the Marine Science Institute and Philippine Coast Guard, a desalination plant that converts seawater to potable water, and a cold storage facility, among others.

Security expert  Prof. Rommel Banlaoi believes a code of conduct between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should finally be crafted due to the simultaneous development programs in the disputed waters.

“Sa ngayon in the absence of a code of conduct, walang makakapigil sa bawat isa kung ano man ang gusto nilang gawin sa mga occupied areas nila,” Banlaoi said.

(Right now, no one can stop the respective countries from doing what they would like to do in their occupied areas because there’s no code of conduct.)

“Kaparis tayo, patuloy nating nai-improve ang ating facilities sa Pag-asa Island. Naglalagay tayo ng mga buoy sa mga areas na malapit sa mga occupied areas natin gayundin ang ginagawa ng China, gayundin ang ginagawa ng Vietnam, gayundin ang ginagawa ng Malaysia at iba pang party sa South China Sea,” he said.

(It’s like the Philippines and the continuous development of our facilities in Pag-asa Island. We also put guards in the nearby areas of our occupied territories. That’s what China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other claimants in the South China Sea are doing.)

GMA News sought the statement of the Department of National Defense on the alleged construction of Chinese facilities but has yet to receive a response as of posting.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News